Olympic Opening Ceremonies 2018: Known Performers, Details and Latest Rumors
The 2018 Winter Olympics will officially begin on Friday at the Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium in South Korea, where the opening ceremony will be staged.
While the essence of the Games are the sports being played, the pageantry and tradition that accompanies the lighting of the Olympic flame is always an occasion to savour. And for the athletes involved, to be introduced under the flag of their nation will be a source of immense personal pride.
Unsurprisingly, there are some grand plans for the Pyeonchang curtain call. Here's a look ahead at what to expect from the opening ceremony and all the key details on where to catch the event.
Date: Friday, February 9
Time: 11 a.m. (GMT), 6 a.m. (ET)
TV Info: BBC Two (UK), Eurosport (UK), NBC Sports (U.S.)
Live Stream: Eurosport (UK), NBCOlympics.com (U.S.)
Preview
R&B artist Insooni will sing the Games' official song "Let Everyone Shine."
According to some South Korean news outlets (h/t Billboard), other artists in action will include Guckkasten's Ha Hyun-woo and Ahn Ji-young of the duo Bolbbalgan4. The pair will collaborate with Jeon In-kwon of Deulgukhwa on the night.
There are traditions to adhere to at any opening ceremony, and according to the Daily Telegraph, the schedule will be loosely similar to that used in Sochi, Russia, four years earlier.
It means the parade of competitors will be followed by oaths from an official, an athlete and a coach. Then the Olympic flame will be lit in the stadium before the hosts provide an artistic presentation.
The flame's official Twitter account provided an update on its recent activity in the buildup to the Games:
At the ceremony, there will be some intriguing things to keep an eye on, including the home athletes when they enter the stadium.
Indeed, as noted by the Olympic Channel, competitors from North Korea and South Korea will march under a unification flag. The same occurred at the Winter Olympics in 2006 in Torino, as well as the Summer Games in 2000 and 2004 in Sydney and Athens, respectively.
Additionally, it's been noted the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, will attend the opening despite ongoing tensions between his country and the host, per Tomohiro Osaki of the Japan Times.
For some athletes, this occasion will be extra special, as a select few will be chosen to carry the flag of their nations into the stadium.
The Team Canada Twitter account confirmed figure skaters Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir will have the honour:
Meanwhile, other nations have confirmed the gear their athletes will be donning for the opening ceremony.
The USA Today Life Twitter account relayed what Team USA athletes will be wrapping up in:
It goes without saying that temperatures will be cold at the Winter Olympics, but it's anticipated there'll be an extra chill in Pyeongchang when the Games get underway.
As reported by Nicola Smith of the Daily Telegraph, there have been fears in the lead-up to the Games that it may be the coldest in three decades. Additionally, the design of the stadium, which doesn't have a roof, may lead to spectators struggling to stay warm.
As noted by Smith, Reuters said organisers are considering providing hot packs and blankets to prevent spectators from suffering with serious conditions like hypothermia.
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